Two Things Tuesday (1/28)

1.   I've had to manage my time wisely during Jack's naps in order to do it, but I have been one busy baby-food-making momma the last couple of days. In between loads (and loads) of laundry, I've made a batch of green beans and potatoes for him to try out, two batches of peaches and cloves (which he can't get enough of), a batch of pears and cinnamon, a batch of apples and cinnamon, and another portion of oatmeal that should last us a couple of days.  For my future self, here's how I prepared things. 

Green Beans and Potatoes

One can of no-salt added cut green beans

One (next time I'll do two) red potato, peeled and cubed

Garlic powder to taste (needs a little more next time)

Boil green beans and potatoes until tender enough to mash

Blend in blender, adding some of the water from pan as needed

Peaches and Cloves

Two bags (1lb each) of frozen sliced peaches

Cloves (powder) to taste--I just sprinkle some in 

Steam peaches (one bag at a time if using small blender)

Spoon peaches into container, sprinkle in cloves, and add small amount of water

Blend until smooth

Pears (or Apples) and Cinnamon

Four danjou pears (or five small apples)

Cinnamon to taste

Peel and slice fruit (yes, I googled how to slice a pear properly!  I felt I'd been to wasteful in the past.  Here's a helpful link :) http://m.wikihow.com/Core-a-Pear)

Steam

Spoon fruit into container, sprinkle cinnamon, and add a small amount of water

Blend until smooth

Oatmeal

3/4 cup of water

1/4 oatmeal

Cinnamon to taste 

Blend dry oatmeal until a tad bit finer (not too powdery)

Bring water and oatmeal to boil and reduce to simmer

Sprinkle in cinnamon, stir as needed

Cook for 2 or 3 minutes. Don't over cook. 

When each item is cool, I use a tablespoon (measuring spoon) and put one spoonful in each section of an ice tray and freeze. Then, those cubes go into a labeled (name of food and date) ziplock bag and everything goes back into the freezer.  I don't freeze the oatmeal because I don't think it would freeze well, and really, it doesn't take long to prepare a fresh batch every couple of days. I've also frozen tons of cubes of pumpkin straight from the massive can of pumpkin purée. Another item I prepare and freeze is a mixture of carrots and blueberries. I didn't have any carrots on hand, or I would have fixed a batch of those, too!  Here's the low down on how I fix them. 

Carrots and Blueberries

Two cups of baby carrots (or regular, chopped carrots if you have oodles of time)

One cup of frozen blueberries, thawed

Steam carrots (this seems to take A LONG time)

Blend carrots and blueberries until smooth

2.  I'm so tired, and I'm praying Jack gets back to sleeping through the night tonight. The last three nights he's wanted to visit around midnight. And by visit, I mean cry until I hold him. Then, he seems fine. I'm afraid it may become a habit, so I'm hoping he just sleeps right on through that time, and he and I can cuddle extra tomorrow. During the day. When I'm functioning.